Successful Landing
The highly anticipated moment arrived as Mission Recovery Operations announced, “We have touchdown!” The Osiris-Rex capsule touched down three minutes earlier than expected, causing excitement among officials. The landing was confirmed to have occurred off the coast of California at 10:42 a.m., exactly as planned.
Parachute Surprises
Surprising everyone, the orange striped parachute opened at a remarkable height of 20,000 feet (6,100 meters). This was four times higher than initially anticipated, based on the deceleration rate. The drogue parachute provided stability upon entering the atmosphere, followed by the deployment of the main parachute, which slowed the capsule down from hypersonic speed to 11 mph.
Successful Retrieval
Ensuring the safety of the contents was a major concern after landing. However, to NASA’s relief, the capsule appeared intact and free from contamination. The 4.5-billion-year-old samples from the asteroid Bennu were successfully recovered without any breach.
Next Steps
The capsule, now in a temporary clean room at the Defense Department’s Utah Text and Training Range, will be transported to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The samples, estimated to be roughly a cup in quantity, will be examined once the container is opened in a day or two. Precise measurements will be obtained in the following weeks.
A Landmark Achievement
NASA’s Osiris-Rex mission marks a significant milestone as the largest amount of asteroid samples from beyond the moon have been retrieved. This $1 billion mission, which began in 2016, has covered a distance of 4 billion miles to reach Bennu and successfully collect valuable material.
International Comparison
Japan remains the only other country to have collected samples from an asteroid, obtaining about a teaspoon’s worth in two missions. The success of NASA’s mission opens new possibilities for scientific exploration and collaboration.
Public Display
In October, NASA plans to showcase the retrieved asteroid samples in a public show-and-tell event. This will provide an opportunity for the public to marvel at the extraordinary achievement and glimpse into the wonders of space exploration.
Sources: The Associated Press